MINIYAKHE Sityatha regards a troublesome knee as a minor distraction as he finalises his preparations for his first international fight.
The current South African junior bantam- weight champion will trade blows with Filipino boxer Marjohn Kiunisala Yap in a 10-round international bout at East London's Orient Theatre on Saturday.
Sityatha, who turns 22 on June 19, is confident of notching yet another victory despite preparations for the shootout being hampered by a sore right knee.
"My right knee is giving me some problems, but that's nothing because this is not the first time that this has happened to me before a fight. I'm very happy to say that my preparations for this fight have gone very well despite the knee problem," the SA champion said.
"I met my opponent after he arrived in East London on Tuesday and I have figured out how to beat him. I'm confident that I will win on Saturday and will see what will happen after that."
While preparing for the Yap clash, Sityatha, a Grade 12 pupil at Sikhulule High School in Mdantsane, had a number of sparring sessions with stablemate Mfusi Maxhayi and he believes that that is going to help him on Saturday.
"Mfusi gave me some tough sparring sessions which I believe will be helpful during my fight," said Sityatha.
Maxhayi, who failed to unseat Eastern Cape bantamweight champion Lusanda Komanisi when he suffered a points loss in February, faces Thabo Sishwane in a six-round bout on the undercard of the Sityatha-Yap bill.
Sityatha dismissed talk that he opted to fight Yap in a bid to run away from defending the SA crown against his Mdantsane homeboy Zolani Tete.
"I have heard people saying I'm scared of fighting against Zolani. That's not true as I'm not afraid of anyone. I'm going to give Zolani a chance once I'm done with Yap," he said.
Meanwhile, Loyiso Mtya, the director of operations at Boxing SA, has revealed that his organisation has extended the relicensing period for boxers, managers, trainers and promoters. Normally licensees renew their licences between April 1 and 30, but the deadline has been extended to May 15.
"We would like to inform all stakeholders about the extension of the relicensing period. They now have until May 15 to renew their licences and there will be no renewals after this date," said Mtya.
Only boxers from the national graduation programme will be licensed after this date. They will be expected to go through the medical processes and tender their applications before accepting any professional fights.
Sityatha sure of next victory
MINIYAKHE Sityatha regards a troublesome knee as a minor distraction as he finalises his preparations for his first international fight.
The current South African junior bantam- weight champion will trade blows with Filipino boxer Marjohn Kiunisala Yap in a 10-round international bout at East London's Orient Theatre on Saturday.
Sityatha, who turns 22 on June 19, is confident of notching yet another victory despite preparations for the shootout being hampered by a sore right knee.
"My right knee is giving me some problems, but that's nothing because this is not the first time that this has happened to me before a fight. I'm very happy to say that my preparations for this fight have gone very well despite the knee problem," the SA champion said.
"I met my opponent after he arrived in East London on Tuesday and I have figured out how to beat him. I'm confident that I will win on Saturday and will see what will happen after that."
While preparing for the Yap clash, Sityatha, a Grade 12 pupil at Sikhulule High School in Mdantsane, had a number of sparring sessions with stablemate Mfusi Maxhayi and he believes that that is going to help him on Saturday.
"Mfusi gave me some tough sparring sessions which I believe will be helpful during my fight," said Sityatha.
Maxhayi, who failed to unseat Eastern Cape bantamweight champion Lusanda Komanisi when he suffered a points loss in February, faces Thabo Sishwane in a six-round bout on the undercard of the Sityatha-Yap bill.
Sityatha dismissed talk that he opted to fight Yap in a bid to run away from defending the SA crown against his Mdantsane homeboy Zolani Tete.
"I have heard people saying I'm scared of fighting against Zolani. That's not true as I'm not afraid of anyone. I'm going to give Zolani a chance once I'm done with Yap," he said.
Meanwhile, Loyiso Mtya, the director of operations at Boxing SA, has revealed that his organisation has extended the relicensing period for boxers, managers, trainers and promoters. Normally licensees renew their licences between April 1 and 30, but the deadline has been extended to May 15.
"We would like to inform all stakeholders about the extension of the relicensing period. They now have until May 15 to renew their licences and there will be no renewals after this date," said Mtya.
Only boxers from the national graduation programme will be licensed after this date. They will be expected to go through the medical processes and tender their applications before accepting any professional fights.
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